West Vancouver kayaker missing, police asking for help

Police in West Vancouver are asking for the public’s help to locate a kayaker who was last seen on Tuesday afternoon.

The West Vancouver Police Department says the 36-year-old man left Batchelor Bay, just west of Whytecliff Park, around 12:40 p.m. on Nov. 19 for what police say was supposed to be “a short paddle.”

“He was last seen rounding Whyte Islet, heading North towards Whytecliff Park. He did not return by his anticipated arrival time of 2:30 p.m. and was reported missing shortly after 4 p.m.,” the WVPD said in a statement Wednesday.

Tuesday saw stormy conditions right across B.C.’s South Coast as a ‘bomb cyclone,’ a rapidly deepening low storm system, brought strong winds and large waves.

Police describe the missing man as being 5’10”, about 170 pounds, with dark hair and brown eyes. Police say he was last seen wearing a black rain jacket, black track pants, black flip-flops, and was in a white collapsable kayak.

The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria told 1130 NewsRadio Tuesday night that it received a call around 5 p.m. for the missing kayaker.

According to the team, crews from Comox, Kitsilano, as well as the Canadian Coast Guard were deployed.

Callers to 1130 shared that they saw Coast Guard helicopters and police boats near Passage Island and Fisherman’s Cove, right by Batchelor Bay.

Joint Rescue explained the search was suspended for the day around 10:20 p.m.

WVPD Sgt. Chris Bigland tells 1130 NewsRadio that the Bowen Island RCMP and volunteer-run North Shore Rescue were also called in to help with the search.

“The missing person was heading out to test some diving equipment in deeper water,” Bigland explained. “We believe that he was headed to, or was planning to, stay in the area of Batchelor Bay.”

“It was expected to be a short trip with a very specific purpose, and then the missing person was expected to return to the area where he had entered the water,” Bigland shared, adding that police aren’t able to comment on whether Tuesday’s weather impacted the kayaker’s trip.

“Based on the information that we have, we believe this person was capable and experienced on the water, both kayaking and in scuba diving.”

The search for the man continues, Bigland says, with the Vancouver Police Department Marine Unit leading the water search, and North Shore Rescue leading the search on land.

Anyone who knows his whereabouts or who has any information related to the missing kayaker is being urged to call police at 604-925-7300.